Method and system for determining migration of ported telephone numbers between service providers

Abstract

A method and system include obtaining at a first time a first image of a database having number portability records for each telephone number which has been ported between service providers. The first image is indicative of the LNP records in the database at the first time. At a second time a second image of the database is obtained. The second image is indicative of the records in the database at the second time. The first and second images are compared to determine migration of ported telephone numbers.

1. A method comprising:
 obtaining at a first time a first image of a database having local number portability (LNP) records for each telephone number which has been ported between service providers, the first image being indicative of the LNP records in the database at the first time; 
 storing the first image in a memory; 
 obtaining at a second time a second image of the database, the second image being indicative of the LNP records in the database at the second time; 
 storing the second image in the memory; and 
 comparing the first image and the second image to determine migration of ported telephone numbers. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 combining information indicative of the determined migration with known information about a network of a given service provider. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2  wherein:
 the known information includes information regarding how the network of the given service provider is connected to networks of other service providers. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1  wherein a network of a given service provider includes a switch, wherein:
 obtaining the first and second images includes the switch of the network of the given service provider querying the database for the first and second images. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 each LNP record contains information regarding a corresponding ported telephone number and a location routing number (LRN) for the ported telephone number; 
 the method further comprising determining the identity of service providers directly involved with the determined migration using the LRNs for the ported telephone numbers. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 obtaining at a third time a third image of the database, the third image being indicative of the LNP records in the database at the third time; and 
 storing the third image in the memory; 
 wherein comparing includes comparing the first, second, and third images to determine migration of ported telephone numbers. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 configuring a network of a given service provider based on the determined migration. 
 
     
     
       8. A system comprising:
 a switch configured to query a database to obtain a first image of the database at a first time, wherein the database has local number portability (LNP) records for each telephone number which has been ported between service providers, the first image being indicative of the LNP records in the database at the first time; 
 the switch further configured to query the database to obtain a second image of the database at a second time, the second image being indicative of the LNP records in the database at the second time; and 
 a processor configured to compare the first and second images to determine migration of ported telephone numbers. 
 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 8  further comprising:
 a local service management system (LSMS) containing information regarding identities of service providers directly involved in the porting of the ported telephone numbers, wherein the LSMS provides the service provider identity information corresponding to a ported telephone number to the database when the telephone number has been ported between service providers. 
 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 9  wherein:
 the processor is further configured to query the LSMS to obtain a third image of the database at a third time, the third image being indicative of the LNP records in the database at the third time; 
 the processor further configured to compare the first, second, and third images to determine migration of ported telephone numbers. 
 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 8  wherein:
 each LNP record contains information regarding a corresponding ported telephone number and a location routing number (LRN) for the ported telephone number; 
 wherein the processor is further configured to determine the identity of the service providers directly involved with the determined migration using the LRNs for the ported telephone numbers. 
 
     
     
       12. A method comprising:
 obtaining at a first time a first image of a database having number portability records for each wireless telephone number which has been ported between service providers, the first image being indicative of the records in the database at the first time; 
 storing the first image in a memory; 
 obtaining at a second time a second image of the database, the second image being indicative of the records in the database at the second time; 
 storing the second image in the memory; and 
 comparing the first image and the second image to determine migration of ported wireless telephone numbers. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12  wherein:
 each record for a ported wireless telephone number contains information regarding the identities of the service providers involved in the porting of the ported wireless telephone number; 
 wherein comparing includes comparing the images to determine the identities of the service providers involved in the porting of the ported wireless telephone numbers. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 combining information indicative of the determined migration with known information about a network of a given service provider. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14  wherein:
 the known information includes information regarding how the network of the given service provider is connected to networks of other service providers. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 12  wherein a network of a given service provider includes a processor, wherein:
 obtaining the first and second images includes the processor of the network of the given service provider querying the database for the first and second images. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 obtaining at a third time a third image of the database, the third image being indicative of the records in the database at the third time; and 
 storing the third image in the database; 
 wherein comparing includes comparing the first, second, and third images to determine migration of ported wireless telephone numbers. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 configuring a network of a given service provider based on the determined migration. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 12  wherein the database further includes number portability records for each landline telephone number which has been ported between service providers, wherein:
 comparing includes comparing the first and second images to determine migration of ported wireless and landline telephone numbers. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19  further comprising:
 configuring a network of a given service provider based on the determined migration.